Coralee Thornburg, 87, died on Sept. 26, 2024, at her home on the farm north of Utica, KS. She was born on August 18, 1937, on the farm at Bazine, KS. The third child of Reuben and Mattie (Staley) DeWald. She was an Elementary Teacher, served as a church organist and pianist for 60 years and belonged to various church and professional organizations and loved to travel.

Coralee attended High Point Center country school through 8th grade and then when they moved into town, she attended Bazine High School and graduated in 1955.  Then she attended Fort Hays State College and received her Bachelor's in Early Childhood Education with a minor in Music.

On June 16, 1957 she married Wallie Allen Thornburg in Bazine, KS at the Bazine Methodist Church. They were married for 67 years. Two children were born to this union, Darla and Allen.

Coralee taught in Healy, Arnold, and Utica Grade Schools. She taught Pre-K - 8th grade, and Title 1 Reading, but was best known as the Kindergarten teacher.  During this time she went back to school and received her Master's, and Reading Specialist degrees. She also taught some classes at FHSU. In 2016 she was so proud to be inducted into the Kansas Teachers Hall of Fame. It was a great testament to her dedication to teaching and all the hours she spent preparing cool learning activities for her students.

She was a 4-H leader while the kids were growing up, instilling a hard work ethic in them. She was the church organist and pianist, a Sunday School teacher, a leader in the local and district United Methodist Women's group and Delta Kappa Gamma. She loved sharing her love of music by giving piano lessons to anyone who asked and playing for many weddings and funerals. Her faith and church were very important to her.

Coralee is survived by daughter, Darla Windholz and husband Roger, of Holdrege, NE and their daughter Mattie Windholz of Lincoln, NE; son Allen and his wife Julia of Scott City, and their daughters, Kaitlyn Mitchell and husband Brent, of Lenexa, KS and Megan Stiverson and her husband, Jordan of Prairie Village, KS.

Coralee was preceded in death by her husband, Wallie; her infant sister Clarice, brother Melford DeWald and his wife Ruthye, sister LaVera Lee and her husband Charles and her parents, Reuben and Mattie DeWald.

Viewing will be held at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Ness City on Friday, October 4, 2024, from 1:00 - 7:00 p.m. with the family present from 5:00 - 7:00 P.M.

Funeral service will be held on Saturday, October 5, 2024, 10:30 A.M. at the Utica Methodist Church, Utica, followed by burial at the Utica Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Utica Methodist Church.

Words of comfort and support may be left for the family by signing the guestbook.